A&E data for September 2026, published 8 October 2026 · Diagnostics (DM01) data for August 2026, published 8 October 2026 · Referral to treatment (RTT) data for August 2026, published 8 October 2026

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust waiting times

Name: Bolton NHS Foundation Trust waiting times
Creator: NHS England
License: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/

Latest NHS England figures for A&E, diagnostic tests and planned treatment at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, in the North West region, which serves Bolton.

A&E

63.3%of A&E attendances admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours (September 2026)

51.3%within 4 hours at the main (type 1) A&E

12,599A&E attendances in the month

580waited over 12 hours from decision to admit

In September 2026, 63.3% of the 12,599 people attending A&E at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust were admitted, transferred or discharged within 4 hours. That is 11.1 points below the England average of 74.4% and 8.5 points below the North West average of 71.8%. It ranks 104 of 120 trusts with a major A&E in England and 14 of 18 in North West (1 = highest share within 4 hours). At the main emergency department (type 1), 51.3% spent 4 hours or less, against 60.6% across England. 2,584 patients were admitted as emergencies through A&E, and 580 waited more than 12 hours from the decision to admit them to being admitted.

Over the last 13 months the 4-hour figure has ranged from 60.2% (December 2025) to 72.4% (April 2026); it is down 2.4 points since September 2025.

Bolton: % within 4 hours of arrival England

Month by month

Month	Within 4 hours	Attendances	12-hour waits (decision to admit)	England within 4 hours
September 2026	63.3%	12,599	580	74.4%
August 2026	66.9%	11,841	470	75.0%
July 2026	72.2%	12,384	445	75.4%
June 2026	66.5%	12,557	455	75.0%
May 2026	68.7%	12,728	516	75.7%
April 2026	72.4%	11,904	476	76.9%
March 2026	68.1%	12,240	374	77.1%
February 2026	63.8%	10,681	483	74.1%
January 2026	62.2%	11,967	531	72.5%
December 2025	60.2%	11,888	440	73.8%
November 2025	61.0%	12,597	395	74.2%
October 2025	62.1%	12,779	288	74.2%
September 2025	65.7%	11,916	213	75.1%

Diagnostic tests

Diagnostic waiting lists at Bolton, end of August 2026
Test	Waiting list	Waiting under 6 weeks	Waiting 13+ weeks	England under 6 weeks
MRI	792	98.6%	1	78.0%
CT	363	69.7%	50	88.8%
Ultrasound	875	99.7%	2	78.3%
Endoscopy	983	94.8%	16	69.6%

MRI: % waiting under 6 weeks England

CT: % waiting under 6 weeks England

Ultrasound: % waiting under 6 weeks England

Endoscopy: % waiting under 6 weeks England

Planned treatment (referral to treatment)

13.3 wksmedian wait (England 12.2 weeks)

61.6%waiting under 18 weeks (England 65.2%)

36,998people waiting for consultant-led treatment

509waiting over 52 weeks

At the end of August 2026, 36,998 people were waiting to start consultant-led treatment at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust. Half had waited less than 13.3 weeks (England: 12.2 weeks) and 61.6% had waited under 18 weeks, 3.6 points below the England figure of 65.2%. The NHS constitution standard is 92% within 18 weeks.

Largest specialty waiting lists
Specialty	Waiting	Median weeks	Under 18 weeks	Over 52 weeks	England median weeks
Ophthalmology	5,036	11.1	70.5%	45	10.4
Ear Nose and Throat	4,372	17.7	50.8%	104	15.4
General Surgery	4,119	11.0	68.4%	2	12.8
Gynaecology	3,334	17.5	51.5%	106	14.2
Dermatology	3,226	13.3	60.8%	9	10.5
Cardiology	2,844	16.3	53.8%	49	11.9
Urology	2,394	13.0	62.2%	14	12.2
Other - Medicals	2,394	10.7	68.4%	2	10.7

Bolton: median RTT wait (weeks) England

Other trusts in North West

Trust	A&E within 4 hours	MRI under 6 weeks	RTT median weeks
Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust	85.9%	100.0%	12.4
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	76.0%	76.7%	14.5
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust	75.6%	100.0%	9.4
North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust	75.2%	99.3%	12.5
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust	73.5%	91.8%	10.8
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust	73.3%	86.2%	12.1
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	73.0%	96.4%	14.2
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust	71.7%	86.8%	12.8
Stockport NHS Foundation Trust	70.2%	99.4%	12.9
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust	70.0%	90.7%	15.5
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	69.0%	96.5%	13.6
Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	66.7%	90.5%	12.9
Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust	65.2%	92.2%	10.6
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust	61.8%	92.1%	11.4
Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust	60.0%	100.0%	8.9
Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust	53.4%	98.1%	12.0
East Cheshire NHS Trust	49.8%	74.1%	13.4

Towns served

Bolton · A&E · MRI

Frequently asked questions

What are A&E waiting times like at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust?

In September 2026, 63.3% of A&E attendances were dealt with within 4 hours, against 74.4% across England and the 95% standard.

How long is the waiting list at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust?

36,998 people were waiting to start consultant-led treatment at the end of August 2026, with a median wait of 13.3 weeks. 509 had waited over a year.

How long is the MRI wait at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust?

98.6% of the 792 people on the MRI waiting list had waited under 6 weeks at the end of August 2026.

How often are these figures updated?

NHS England publishes A&E, diagnostics (DM01) and referral to treatment (RTT) statistics every month, usually on the second Thursday. A&E figures cover the previous month; diagnostics and RTT figures are a month further behind. This site refreshes when new files are published.